Man Charged With Drugged Driving After Fatal LIE Crash Arraigned

SHIRLEY, NY — A Mastic man charged with driving while high on drugs following a crash that killed one person and injured eight others on the Long Island Expressway Saturday afternoon was arraigned Monday.

The district attorney said Peter Visconti, Jr., 37, was driving "erratically and at a high rate of speed" as he headed west on the LIE before crossing the median into oncoming traffic, a post by News12.com said.

In addition, Visconti's driver's license was suspended and he had illegal prescription drugs in his pocket, the post said.

He apparently had Xanax and Oxycodone, a Newsday report said.

According to Suffolk County Police, the name of the victim has not yet been released.

A neighbor of Visconti's said his wife died in December in an accident, leaving behind a new baby, News12 reported.

Visconti remains in custody in lieu of bail set at $10,000 and bond set at $25,000. His next scheduled court date is April 9.

Visconti Jr., of Mastic, was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs, third degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, police siad.

Suffolk Police say Visconti was driving a 2004 Ford pickup truck westbound on the LIE near the William Floyd Parkway in Shirley when it struck a 2011 Honda minivan at about 3:30 p.m. The pickup truck then crossed over the median into the eastbound lanes where it struck a motorcycle and a 2013 Toyota minivan.

Seven people in the Toyota minivan were transported to area hospitals. An adult female passenger was pronounced dead at Long Island Medical Center in East Patchogue. Another adult female is in critical condition at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore. The driver and four other passengers suffered non-life threatening injuries.
The male motorcyclist was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital with serious injuries. Visconti was transported to Long Island Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The driver and passenger of the 2011 minivan did not receive medical treatment.

Police have also not released the names of any of those who were injured.

All vehicles were impounded for safety checks and the investigation is continuing. Major Case detectives are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call at 631-852-6555.

Video by Fully Involved Media Group / John Walthers